USA, NY: Ledge Hill Brewing Co. chooses Ticonderoga Area as their new location

The void on Ticonderoga’s Montcalm Street when Libby’s Bakery Cafe closed has been deeply felt in the community, the locked doors, darkened windows, and wasted potential troublesome to any onlooker, the Sun Community News reported on July 24.

However, a good space doesn’t stay vacant long, something generally grows. Such is the case, with a perfect confluence of events bringing a new ray of sunshine to the heart of downtown. Ledge Hill Brewing Co., formerly of Westport, N.Y., will be the newest star Ticonderoga welcomes to the ongoing business revival.

“The community is excited to welcome the brewery as this type of business has been something we have heard, from many local community members and visitors we needed,” said Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Matt Courtright.

“Ledge Hill Brewery’s decision to choose the Ticonderoga Area as their new location is another big step forward in the region’s economic growth. We feel the traffic they will bring to Ticonderoga will benefit all of the surrounding businesses.”

And as for the newest occupant of 92 Montcalm Street, he’s equally as enthusiastic and hopes his brewery will enrich and enhance the town of Ticonderoga and become a must-visit landmark to all who pass through.

“I make all the beer myself,” said Ledge Hill owner Matthew Brankman. “I am passionate about it and I care very much about people enjoying the beer and the beer being a reason to come to Ticonderoga.”

Ledge Hill Brewing Co. opened in Westport in 2017, a family endeavor turned thriving pursuit. Together with his father, he renovated an old building in the town and spent the past five years there growing the brewery into the popular establishment it is today. However, life recently reshuffled the deck.

“Things changed with the building, there’s new owners with new plans and we were looking for an opportunity to stay in Essex County close to home and Ticonderoga came up,” Brankman said. “I feel so fortunate.”

For Brankman, a Navy veteran and former math and science teacher in remote Alaska and a current principal in Bridport, Vt., the road to becoming a professional brewer was a decade-long journey that began when friends sent him a home brew kit during his time in the 49th state. Once he moved back to the contiguous states and settled in Vermont, his passion grew.

“I was fascinated and astounded at the quality of the beers that were being produced,” he recalled. “I decided I was going to figure out how to make them myself, and that was a ten-year home brewing process.”

When it came time to open a brewery, Brankman felt the Vermont market was already saturated. Citing a multitude of family reasons, Brankman made the decision to move back to his hometown of Westport with his family and to begin Ledge Hill there.

Brankman produces three barrels of beer at a time (31 gallons per barrel, roughly 100 gallons), and intends on brewing everything on-site at the building formerly known as Libby’s. The beer selections will include their porter, a light and delicious pilsner, Wadhams! Lager (named for the hamlet in Westport), a seasonal Hefeweizen called Hurricane Mountain (created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Hurrican Mountain fire tower), and their flagship IPA, The Fool.

“Our brewery logo is a version of The Fool tarot card, which was my father-in-law's favorite card,” Brankman explained. “He had it as a tattoo, and that was our inspiration because The Fool represents taking a leap of faith.”

And, of course, the question on everyone’s mind is, will the brewery also serve food?

“Yes, but the situation with the current Libby’s kitchen is that the Federal Government will not allow food to be produced in the same space as beer,” he explained. In the meantime, until he can get to know the space better and redesign the kitchen area after, he is envisioning olive plates, cheese plates, and charcuterie behind the bar. Noting his brother is a restauranter and that prior to the relocation, the two were already well into a conversation about a robust menu, he assures an expanded selection will be in the works.

“We are trying to figure out and work with as many people in the community as people as possible to figure out what’s needed and what we can build towards,” he promised.
Brankman is hopeful the brewery will be open by early September, and says he will absolutely be looking to hire staff, at least two bartenders who are passionate about craft beer and learning the at of it, as well as cooks and waitstaff once the food and kitchen expansion gets underway.

“There is something magical about beer; beer brings people together from all different demographics and walks of life and experiences,” mused Brankman thoughtfully.

“Having a beer with somebody is a way to build community and connections- most of the good things that have happened in the history of the world have happened over a beer.” Brankman said he hopes Ledge Hill will be a place where people can come together and transcend age and occupations and simply enjoy themselves, and one another. It’s an extension of what he considers an important part of personal history, a commitment to service.

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